5 comments about The Daring Book for Girls.

1. I can only say how tremendously disappointed I was by this book! My son adores the Dangerous Book for Boys and I had high hopes that this book might rival it for my daughter. If one's only hopes for "daring" must entail tangling with the occult, it is a sad day for young girls everywhere! The book encourages girls to read tarot, play "Bloody Mary", and venture into other avenues of the occult. Somehow they managed to intersperse a few bits of fun with the objectionable material - we clipped out the section on hand jives before ripping off the cover and recycling the book. So disappointing!



2. I have been listening to this while at various airports around the country and I think it's very fun. Great to listen to and I think it'd be very empowering for the younger generation.



3. I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter. As soon as I opened the box the cover caught her eye. After dinner she curled up in a chair and was flipping pages. I asked if there was anything interesting in there - "I guess so" was the reply. 2 hours later, she tucked it into her book bag so she could read it at school. I'm a dad and we often do crafts and outdoor projects like tire swings, and tree house. We now have several new things to try.
   I even learned a few things when I managed to get the book away from her.
   Fun reading - recommended.



4. This book is great! Shows lots of things for girls with some words of encouragement. The only part that may cause some concern with parents is the Slumber Party Games. They show "Light As A Feather, Stiff As A Board" and "Ouija Board". Some parents might object to this but other than that, all is good!!



5. if i had this book i wud read it more than if i more books that i got

2 comments about Roberto & Me (Baseball Card Adventures).

1. I am 8 years old and have read almost all of Dan Gutman's Baseball Card Adventure books. Roberto & Me is awesome! It was really cool how Joey travels through time. I loved the book so much I read it all in one day.
   Mom's turn- My son likes to put off his reading homework until the last minute. Dan Gutman's adventure books have changed his whole attitude towards reading. They are exciting to read, mixing baseball reality with baseball fantasy. What a fun way to combine history with adventure. Congratulations to Mr. Gutman as he hit another homerun with Roberto & Me!



2. I have read almost everything by Dan Gutman and this was by far the best book of his. It was interesting to learn more about Roberto Clemente. I like the books in this series where Stosh tells people that he is from the 21st century and this one was especially good because the people believed him. It was so good that I had to reread it right after I finished it!

5 comments about My Weird School Daze #2: Mr. Sunny Is Funny!.

1. As soon as I got it I was happy. When I read it it was really funny because weird stuff was happening. A person's worst enemy has to stay at a beach house with him. Luckily his 3 best friends are also staying with them. Even the cover looks hilarious. After I read it I couldn't wait till I got another book in this series.
   By Robin, age 8



2. I looooooooved this book so much. I would recommend it because it's the best book of the My Weird School series. It takes place on the beach. I really loved it and I hope you do too!



3. My daughter, who was in 2nd grade, couldn't get into reading.
   We found the series "Weird School" and she LOVED them. She read the
   entire series. Now with this follow-up series "Weird School Daze" she
   is thrilled to be able to keep reading!!



4. Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 8) for Reader Views (9/08)
   
   
   "Mr. Sunny Is Funny!" is about a teacher from Ella Mentry School who rents a beach house for the summer. The house he rents is next door to the house that one of his students is staying in for the summer. At first, A.J. (the student) is not at all happy his teacher is next door. Summer is supposed to be months of "anti-teacher" zones. Eventually, A.J. and Mr. Sunny start doing things together. They build a huge sandcastle, invent solar-powered panels for ipods and they go surfing.
   
   Another student named Andrea and her family rent the house on the other side of where A.J. is staying. Then things start to get really messy! Andrea is annoying to A.J. and he always wants to get rid of her. She doesn't care and insists upon hanging around him.
   
   I liked "Mr. Sunny Is Funny!" by Dan Gutman and thought it was really, really funny. I liked reading about teachers who make kids go crazy and about kids who make teachers go crazy!



5. Okay. I am not 13 years old, more like Jack Benny's 39. I have a brain tumor and I am very, VERY slow. But this book was GREAT.
   
   The book is called "Mr. Sunny Is Funny" and it takes place at the beach near the ocean and there is a shark! This was a CLASSIC! Believe it or not, there were lots about Shakespeare --- even the real stuff! At the last chapter, it says "The Big Surprise End That Will Completely Shock You, Unless You Already Guessed It". Does this sound like George Kirgo? (He was an author, wrote books, movies, etc.) His book was called "How to Write Ten Different Best Sellers NOW in Your Spare Time -- and Become the First Author on Your Block, Unless There's an Author Already on Your Block, in Which Case You'll Become the Second Author on Your Block, and That's Okay, Too AND OTHER STORIES".
   
   Thanks, George.

4 comments about My Weird School Daze #4: Coach Hyatt Is a Riot!.

1. I am a big football fan so I bought this book, and found out that it was pretty good. The writer knew what he was talking about and also made it fun. So if your son likes football then you should buy this book.



2. This series has made my 8 year old want to read. He loves these books.



3. I purchased these books for two boys who really enjoyed them and asking for more.



4. My twin 7 year old girls LOVE ALL of the Weird School Books. AJ is their favorite character. This new book delivers all the laughs the other books have delivered. We read it in one sitting and love the new character Coach Hyatt and her son Wyatt. Andrea "rocks" and annoys AJ in new and creative ways. It was great! We are preordering the next book in the series.

5 comments about Peak.

1. Roland Smith did it again. He made an amazing novel named Peak. Peak is about a boy named Peak. Peak is famous climber Joshua Wood's son. Peak is about to face the challange of his life. Peak can be the youngest person on the summit of Everest!Only luck can help him now. My favorite part is when...oops I can't give that information. Peak has to defy the odds to win the challange. This was an amazing book. Everyone should read it. I give this 5 stars because it was packed with adventure and the author truly painted a picture in my mind.~Eagle



2. I am a Roland Smith fan. I am interested in the outdoors, and adventure sports. I wanted to enjoy this book. Maybe I was expecting too much.
   
   I found many elements of the plot implausible and seemingly unplanned. I also spotted five or six editorial errors (grammar and typo issues) which was annoying.
   
   The book had its moments, most often filtered through Vincent or Zopa, but I doubt I would have finished this book as a teen or pre-teen intrigued by _My Side of the Mountain_, _Avalanche!_, _Cady Woodlawn_, and other tales where characters pushed themselves beyond the expectations of others, and reveled in the outdoors.
   
   I was happy with the final chapters, however.



3. I think Peak was a wonderful story but not my favorite. The good thing about this book is you can tell what a character looks like in your head. Because Roland Smith writes with so much detail not just for the characters but for everything else. In my opinion about Peak is that he's very determined. He also is really into what he loves which is climbing. Josh to me is very sneaky and selfish. The setting in this book was terrific! I mean you can't write a book about someone who loves to climb and have it not take place on Mount Everest! I also really like how the end is something that you definitely do not expect. Especially after all that he's been through on the journey up. I did take one star off my ratings though. Because I feel it really got boring at times. I wish I didn't feel this way. Otherwise it had so much detail that you feel like your actually with them!This book is definitely for people who like adventure and survival packed stories. Peak is a book that is a great realistic fiction story.I think the main themes of this book are trust, friendship, confidence, survival, and perseverance. You need all these things to get up Mount Everest! Peak is a really good novel. If your someone who loves survival stories Peak will leave you hanging off the edge of your seat wanting to read more!



4. I have to read this book in 8th grade and it is so far a good book. Heres my review: When fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello's long-lost father presents the opportunity for them to summit Everest together, Peak doesn't eve consider saing no-even though he suspects there are a few strings attached. And if he makes it to the top before his birthday, he'll be the youngest person ever to stand above 29,000 feet. It's not a bad turn of events for a guy who's been stuck in New York City with only skyscrapers to (illegally) scale.
   Here, in Peak's own words, is the exhilarating, gut-a climb that changed everything. Welcome to Mount Everest.



5. This is the second book I have read on my Kindle. It is very well written and has a great storyline. The author's style was one of my favorites. Definitiely buy this book.

5 comments about Pop.

1. If I was asked to write a one word review for POP by Gordon Korman, I would write - Fantastic! Once readers start passing this one around, it may never touch a bookshelf again.
   
   Quarterback want-to-be Marcus Jordan is packed up and moved to the mountains of New York state by his divorced mother. It's no big loss in the dad department considering he refers to his father as Comrade Stalin. He knows he and his mother are better off out of Kansas and on their own, but it's the summer before his junior year, and his dream of playing varsity quarterback may not survive the move.
   
   With no friends yet to occupy his time and definitely no fellow football companions to work out with, Marcus heads to the local city park to create his own workout. He is attempting some passing practice when a burly, middle-aged guy shows up and sprints into the park and picks off one of his passes. Before he knows it, the guy is putting him through his paces. They are passing the ball like crazy and then running patterns and hitting each other like it's the biggest game of the season. And then the guy is gone.
   
   Marcus learns the man's name is Charlie. Without any regular schedule or plan, they start working out together in the park. Charlie just sort of shows up - maybe one day, but not the next, and rarely ever at the same time. Even with crazy and unreliable appearances, the time Marcus spends with Charlie is really improving his game.
   
   Whenever Marcus tries to find out exactly who Charlie is, he runs into a roadblock. Their time together is basically all about football - until the day a wild pass ends up crashing through the side window of a car parked along the street. Charlie disappears faster than Marcus believed possible, leaving him to write a note to the car owner promising to pay the repair bill. After that more strange things begin to happen. Marcus notices that when he and Charlie leave the park to grab a Gatorade or a bag of ice to ice down an injury, Charlie simply grabs what they need from a local store and leaves without paying a cent. Weird... but the weirdness is outweighed by the fantastic football knowledge Marcus is gaining from this awesome athlete.
   
   As school starts that fall, Marcus finds it difficult to fit into the already stacked football roster. The team has a super reputation and is heading into a second undefeated season. There seems to be no hope that he will play quarterback. In his attempt to make friends and fit in with the team, Marcus learns that Charlie is the father of the team's star quarterback. It makes sense that such a great player would have a talented son, but Marcus also discovers that there is some sort of family secret and Charlie seems to be at the center of it.
   
   Gordon Korman is at his best in POP. He has wrapped a tremendous amount into this fast-paced novel. In addition to football action, readers will experience Marcus's "new guy" frustration, emotions twisted by his parents' divorce, and the discovery of a horribly debilitating disease. Readers will find it difficult to stop reading once they have met Marcus and Charlie.
   
   Run, don't walk, to the nearest library or bookstore to get a copy of POP.
   
   Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"



2. When sixteen-year-old Marcus Jordan moves to Kennesaw, New York, he doesn't exactly find a welcoming committee waiting for him. It's a little hard to make friends in the middle of the summer when you don't know anyone in town, so Marcus spends his days at Three Alarm Park, practicing his football skills alone and waiting for the school year to start.
   
   It's while Marcus is honing his game that he finally makes a friend - an unlikely friend, but a friend nonetheless. Charlie is in his mid-fifties, but he's not like any adult Marcus has ever met. He loves pranks and he really loves football. And, after practicing with Charlie every afternoon, Marcus comes to love the `pop' of a hard tackle as much as the odd older man does.
   
   When football tryouts start, Marcus is met with a wall of resistance. The team was undefeated last year, only graduated two seniors, and the coach has no desire to introduce a new player into the mix. Worse yet, starting quarterback Troy Popovich detests Marcus from the moment they meet and he doesn't try to hide it. When Marcus discovers that Charlie is Troy's dad - and a fourteen year veteran of the NFL - Troy's hostility and Charlie's juvenile behavior lead Marcus to discover a truth about Charlie that his family is desperate to hide.
   
   Marcus vows to remain loyal to his friendship with Charlie, despite Troy's animosity. Even though Troy and his sister want Marcus to stay away from his father and out of their lives, he's not willing to abandon Charlie - even if it means putting his own future at risk.



3. POP as a title contains a double meaning -- one, it is the nickname of Charlie Popovich, an ex-NFL star suffering from Alzheimer's, and two, it is the sound you get when you slam your helmet into someone in football. It comes as no surprise, but "Pop" likes to pop people, and our protagonist, Marcus Jordan, finds out the hard way when he meets the 50-something Charlie at the public park one day while tossing around a football. The unlikely meeting leads to regular practice between the old-timer and the youngster, who is new to town and anxious to try out for the undefeated high school team.
   
   With plenty of football action, this book will appeal to reluctant readers as well as sports fans, but it also takes a social angle as Marcus learns that the high school quarterback whose job he covets is the son of Charlie and none too pleased that Marcus is a) angling for his starting QB job, and b) practicing football with his legendary dad at the park. What's worse, both Troy and his sister Chelsea are bent on keeping Charlie's condition -- Alzheimer's as a result of multiple concussions during his NFL career -- a secret. Want more for the mix? How about Alyssa, head cheerleader and looker who on-again/off-again dates Troy, taking up an interest in Marcus?
   
   Veteran YA author Gordon Korman pulls all the levers in this book to maximize the entertainment value. There's some suspense, some humor, and some learning about an important disease neatly brought together in one package here. My one reservation is a common one in the YA field -- the lack of reality in some of the situations and events. The more important point, however, is that this book is compelling and equal parts sports, humor, and social drama -- a potent combination. Recommended.



4. I started reading this book one night and two hours later and way past midnight I was still turning pages. What may be even more unusual about that is that I am hardly Gordon Korman's target audience. I'm a middle-aged woman, albeit a football fan. Marcus and Charlie are great characters. You can feel Marcus's anguish at being the new kid in town, school, and team. You get a sense of Charlie trying to hang on to the last shreds of himself. For adults, the story may be a bit precious in places. All the pieces fit together a little too neatly, and we're never in doubt that in the end there will be a big game and it will be up to Marcus to win it. That's hardly a spoiler, but there's a lot more to the ending and it's a surprise. Young teen boys should really enjoy this story. It would be great for slightly younger kids too, but there is some kissing and sexual innuendo.



5. Reviewed by Ben Hartman (age 11) for Reader Views (7/09)
   
   "Pop" by Gordon Korman is a great, realistic, fiction book that will have you hooked in the first five pages. One of the main characters, Marcus Jordan, moves to a new town during the summer and spends his time alone in Three Alarm Park practicing his football passes to get ready for tryouts. His summer suddenly becomes exciting when a middle-aged man jumps out from behind a statue and intercepts Marcus's football pass. The man has a great arm and launches the ball out of the park and across the street. From that day on, Charlie, the middle-aged man, comes to the park almost every day to play football with Marcus.
   
   During the summer, in addition to football, Charlie and Marcus play lots of tricks and pranks on the K.O. Pest Control owner. One of the tricks they play is sugaring the entire store. The next day, there are bugs swarming everywhere around and in the store - not a good thing for a Pest Control company! Although Marcus is having fun, he starts to wonder why this middle-aged man is spending time playing pranks and football with him, and why he calls him `Mac' instead of Marcus. He looks up Charlie on the internet and is amazed to find out that Charlie was one of the best pro-football players in NFL history. His nickname is "The King of Pop." As the relationship between Marcus and Charlie gets closer and closer, Marcus also figures out the secret that Charlie's family is desperate to hide.
   
   At tryouts, Marcus makes the Raiders football team thanks to Charlie's coaching. The Raiders are working on their second perfect season. Troy, their quarterback, and also Charlie's son, doesn't like the new kid, Marcus, for two reasons. First, Marcus is also a quarterback, and might threaten his starting position on the team. Second, Troy doesn't like the relationship between Marcus and his father, Charlie, and is afraid Marcus will learn the secret he is trying to keep. As the football season get underway, Troy starts to have more trouble with his Dad, Charlie, and more trouble concentrating on playing quarterback. Can Marcus figure out how to help the team and how to help Troy with his Dad?
   
   This book was so good, I would rate it 4 ½ out of five stars. "Pop" by Gordon Korman is appropriate for kids 10 or 11 and up. There was lots of sports action in this book, but it was also about relationships and how they impact your life - Marcus and Charlie, Troy and Marcus, Troy and Charlie, plus a lot more. Marcus and Troy both think they know what is best for the team and Charlie. But in the end, who will win?

5 comments about A Journey The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno.

1. The book A Journey is inspirational to everyone that tries their hardest and loves the sport or other thing that you are trying to achieve. This book shows use the hardship of growing up and how we can trust our family for our problems. The thought of trying harder to be a success is always a part of all lives and should never be forgoten. This book will always be insiring and must be read by young and old.



2. This is a great story about Apolo and he writes the book so that you are able to feel like your are on the ice with him on every win and fall. You will really enjoy this book.



3. Apolo Anton Ohno is a great speedskater . . . and after reading the book I find that he has a pretty good potential for a writer too. After watching him in the 2002 Winter Olympics, I was intrigued with his story. This gives me something elso to build off of as well. He sets a good example for kids because he is a true good sport -- always with a "That's the sport. What happens happens" attitude. A great read.



4. Spare & lean, this young man tells his story with aplomb & humor. Nancy Ann Richardson has not tampered with his way of expressing himself, allowing Apolo Anton Ohno to shine on through.

   A JOURNEY is as much a biography of a modern, unassuming hero as it is a tribute to a father's job well done.

   A must-read for anyone with a hunger for excellence, & a clue about self-awareness. A splendid read in which we catch glimpses of how one person, with many strikes against him, found something to pull him out of a typical city-bound boyhood, out of the terrible teens, out of obscurity to be the best at what he does.

   Apolo Anton Ohno can also add storyteller/author to his accomplishments. Highly recommended.




5. I was incredibly impressed by Apolo during the Olympics - not only is he an amazing athlete to watch in one of the best sports in the Olympics, but he was also gracious, seemed to know the real meaning of the games - participation and being in the moment as opposed to winning - and his celebration upon winning the silver moved me to tears but after reading the book, I didn't get the same feeling and I admit it left me disappointed. The book was not very well written and I half expected it to be since he had a co-author. Apolo seems to take himself a bit too seriously. He dwells on leaving home at age 14, something many kids do to go to boarding school and the like and I don't hear them whining. He also failed to take responsibility for his own health and injuries and appears to blame others for that. Yes, he was young, but it is clear he didn't have a hard time defying his father, which leads me to believe he was quite capable of speaking up for himself. I also didn't find his defense of the race fixing scandal very persuasive. In his interviews, Apolo seems very nice, unassuming and gracious but in the book he just didn't come across that way. Maybe he had too much of an axe to grind against his coaches and his accusers. I think he will regret publishing this. Sometimes it is best to write down how you feel and then put it away until you have come to terms with your feelings and then decide if you really want to share them or not and my guess is, in a few years, Apolo will regret sharing many of the ones he put in this book.

5 comments about The Boxer and the Spy.

1. High school chums and almost boyfriend/girlfriend Terry and Abby suspect that their classmate's suicide was not a suicide at all, but foul play somehow tied in with some shady goings-on by their school principal and a local pol now running for governor. But what, they observe, could a couple of kids do about it? A lot, as we soon find out.
   
   Robert B. Parker's third book for young adults ("Edenville Owls" and "Chasing the Bear" were the first two), doesn't talk down to kids, and in fact discusses Mr. Parker's usual themes with the same enthusiasm as they're approached in his adult thrillers. These include the importance of having a personal code, and being consciously aware of both the strengths and challenges of one's personal relationships, especially one's primary romantic relationship. Actually, in this book's case, it's more of a potential romantic relationship, as Terry and Abby are still somewhat circling each other and figuring everything out, even as each is clearly taken with the other.
   
   The title alludes to Terry's enthusiasm for boxing and Abby's plan to mobilize her and Terry's friends to spy on the adults they suspect of murdering their friend and scamming the community. A decent plotline (maybe slightly simpler than a usual Parker plot, but not much), likable characters, and some good confrontation scenes result in a solid, entertaining effort. As I also said about the characters in Mr. Parker's other two stand-alone (so far) young adult titles, it would be nice to see Terry and Abby again sometime.



2. I haven't ever read a Robert B. Parker novel, and I can understand what everyone is saying about his incredible dialogue. Terry is not an overly complicated boy, with the basic motivations of an essentially good person. He is head-over-heels for the flirtatious, intelligent Abby, and the two of them banter continually about sex even though they've never had it and aren't sure they want to have it. The zen-like wisdom of the capable George balances the easy back and forth of the pair and the chatter of their friends. The mystery is not particularly mysterious, violent, or particularly surprising at its conclusion, but that takes nothing away from Terry's investigations, which unites kids from all classes and cliques. Wonderful book.



3. I can't do a review of this book because I need recieved it. I paid for it and it never arrived. So I can't say if I like it or not. This is the second item that didn't arrive, so if anyone can tell me why, I would appreciate it.



4. This book is probably aimed at a younger audience than Parker's Spenser novels, but the characters and plot points are so similar to those in the Spenser novels that it will probably entertain older readers too.
   
   The three-part story is simple.
   
   1. Teenaged Jason was a loner. His drowning is written off as a suicide by the authorities. Ninth-grader Terry and Abby, his girlfriend (without benefits!) knew Jason from school, are dubious about the "suicide," and start nosing around a bit. School authorities and some bullies try to discourage them, which makes them more determined to continue investigating. Escalating conflicts quickly ensue.
   
   2. Terry is taking boxing lessons from ex-boxer George, who teaches Terry as much about life as about boxing.
   
   3. While investigating Jason's death, Terry and Abby also learn a lot about themselves. (But still no benefits!)
   
   This is basically a Spenser novel for teens. If you like Spenser, you'll probably like Terry and Abby too.



5. I thought I had read every book Robert B. Parker ever wrote so was surprised when I saw this one, which appeared totally unfamiliar and isn't listed in any of his other books.
   I did enjoy it and it was well written; however, it was definitely a kids book and not an adult book. I passed it on to my 11 year old grand daughter who enjoyed it immensely!

5 comments about Tangerine.

1. Haunted by a disturbing incident in his past, soccer player Paul Fisher begins to build a new life for himself when his family moves from Texas to Tangerine, Florida. Forever under the shadow of his older brother, a high school football star, Paul is forced to deal with his personal struggles and accomplishments all on his own. Tangerine is an unforgettable story with strong, believable characters and an interesting plot. Written by Edward Bloor.
   --Reviewed by Kristina Miranda



2. Tangerine is one of my summer reading books. When ever I have to read it, it feels like a chore, but I would much rather prefer cleaning out my hamster's filthy poopy cage anytime than reading this awful novel. It is a stupid book with a crapy plot that stinks. After read the first 75 pages I wasn't sure what I wanted to do more, barf out all my intestines or set the book on fire while I danced around it and celebrated. If it was up to me, I would do both. I gave this item 1 star, I would give it - infinity stars but it only goes down to one.
   please DO NOT buy this book. I don't understand why some people gave it 5 stars? They must be crazy.



3. Tangerine by Edward Bloor is one of my favorite young adult novels, so this year I decided to try it as a read-aloud. Most of my students followed with interest, although I'm not sure how well all of them were able to truly grasp the multiple layers of the novel.
   
   Tangerine tells the story of Paul Fisher, a 12-year-old moving with his family to Tangerine, Florida. Paul lives with his parents and his older brother, Erik, who is a senior in high school. Erik is a star kicker on the football team with his eye set on a football scholarship to a major university. Paul and Erik's parents, especially their father, are obsessed with Erik's football career, leading Paul to derisively label it as "The Erik Fisher Football Dream" in his thoughts.
   
   Paul enjoys sports as well, although his favorite sport is soccer. He plays goalie, a position at which he feels comfortable, despite his disability. Paul is legally blind as a result of a mysterious accident when he was younger. His parents told him that he stared at an eclipse as a child, but the story doesn't add up.
   
   Paul quickly realizes that nothing is as it seems in Tangerine. He lives in a seemingly pristine development of McMansions surrounding a man-made lake, but it is plagued by many strange occurrences. A muck fire burns just outside the perimeter wall, the expensive koi are disappearing from the lake, and one house is repeatedly struck by lighting. Strange things also begin happening outside the development. The captain of the football team is killed by a lightning strike during practice. Also, part of Paul's middle school is swallowed up by a sinkhole.
   
   The idea that nothing is as it appears in not a new one to Paul. He feels that even though his vision is impaired, he sees things more clearly than other people. This is especially true in regards to his brother Erik. Where everyone else sees a fine young man and a star football player, Paul sees other things that are far less unpleasant. Whenever something bad happens around Tangerine, Erik seems to be nearby. Paul notices Erik's strange emotional reactions to events. Paul also starts to have flashbacks, thinking that Erik was somehow involved in the mysterious accident that affected his vision.
   
   The main part of the story occurs after the sinkhole incident. Paul decides to transfer from the wealthy, mostly white Lake Windsor Middle School to the poorer, mostly minority Tangerine Middle School. While this doesn't bother him at all, he sees ugly ideas about race and social class from some of his friends and family. Paul ultimately finds a comfort zone at Tangerine Middle, even as things around him become increasingly chaotic. Houses in Paul's neighborhood are burglarized, people are attacked, and Erik seems to Paul to be increasingly unstable.
   
   Tangerine has such a complex (but still easy to follow) story that it is hard to do it justice in a short summary. It touches on so many things. It satirizes the supposedly idyllic life of new developments, as well as the culture of youth sports, in which talent can trump character. It looks at the juxtaposition of social classes that is common in so many areas, where the lives of the rich and the poor who live close together usually intersect only infrequently. It looks at the struggle of Paul to find an identity as an adolescent who is often overshadowed by others. But most of all, it goes into the importance of looking beneath the surface.



4. I had high expectations for this book for my 13-year old son and I, based on the reviews. It fell a bit short of mine, but met or exceeded his. The tale of this dysfunctional family has "messages" about lots of issues --- the environment, sports hero worship, race and class discrimination, suburban sprawl --- and it can be heavy-handed in conveying the (worthy) messages it sends. It also swerves between realistic and fantastic in its treatment of the characters and their world. Arguably the author tried to cram too many books into this one story --- it's a bit "jack-of-all-trades master of none." On the other hand, the story has interesting characters and settings, more to it than many teen reads, and a fairly compelling narrative momentum. Knowing what it would be, I would have gotten it for the two of us, but never have read it as an adult on my own.



5. What can I say in this that I haven't said in the title? This book was so great as a kid that I had to reread it now as I'm older (20, anyway..) and it is still a perfect book. It's got a great story, with great characters, and it's really well written. The book takes you into it from the first page, and keeps you involved all the way through. I don't think I can explain very well. I do think if you read this book you will NOT be upset, whether you're a young adult, or older teenager, or even an adult. It hits home and it just makes you want to keep reading and reading it until you have finished it!
   
   Very much recommended.

3 comments about My Weird School #19: Dr. Carbles Is Losing His Marbles!.

1. Arrived before the shipping time stated and in perfect condition. My son loves this series and is very happy with it.



2. All these books are perfect for getting kids to take up reading, I buy them by the bunch and they get read inmediately.



3. I've read all of the Weird School books and enjoyed them. They are all funny. Dr Carbles is Losing his Marbles is a great book because it's really funny. I liked the parts involving a toupee (wig/fake hair). It gets yanked off of Dr. Carbles head in front of the students at recess and it's hysterical! I would reccomend this book.
   
   Reveiwed by Matthew-8 yrs old